WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) helped introduce two pieces of legislation that would designate both the Taliban and Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), and direct the U.S. Secretary of State to designate the illegitimate Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. Additionally, Senator Capito joined a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), urging her to introduce a resolution designating Hamas as a terrorist organization and imposing additional sanctions that would prevent them from accessing funds. More details on each effort can be found below.

Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act:

Senator Capito joined 13 of her Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. This legislation – led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) – would redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a FTO due to their actions to destabilize the region, the security threat they pose to the U.S. and most recently, their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Israel.

“The United States stands strong with our ally Israel, and it’s imperative that we call the brutal tactics deployed against our ally exactly what they are – acts of terrorism. With its decision to join Hamas and Hezbollah in Iranian-backed attacks against civilians in Israel, Ansarallah has proven it belongs in the same category. I’m proud to join with my colleagues to introduce this legislation as we display the strength needed during this time of heightened national security threats,” Senator Capito said. 

In addition to Senators Capito and Daines, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act is co-sponsored by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).

Letter to the UN:

Senator Capito joined 33 of her Senate colleagues in a letter – led by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) – to the United States Ambassador to the UN urging her to introduce a resolution designating Iranian-backed Hamas as a terrorist organization following the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel since October 7.

“Recent events have demonstrated that Hamas’ actions, tactics, and stated goals are in many ways indistinguishable from Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist organizations the United Nations has sanctioned. Therefore, we write to urge you to bring a resolution to the UN Security Council recognizing and imposing sanctions on Hamas as a terrorist organization,” the senators said.

Joining Senators Capito, Lankford and Rosen in sending the letter were Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tills (R-N.C.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

Full text of the letter is available here.

Preventing Recognition of Terrorist States Act:

Senator Capito, along with her colleagues U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), reintroduced the Preventing Recognition of Terrorist States Act. This legislation – led by Senator Rubio – directs the Secretary of State to designate the illegitimate Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and the Taliban as a FTO. It would also prevent the U.S. from taking steps to recognize the Taliban’s regime.

“Two years after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, we’ve seen what this radical terrorist group is capable of. Not only do they aid and abet terrorism, they continue to violate human rights, especially those of women and young children. By designating the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization and preventing U.S. recognition of their regime, this legislation takes necessary steps to correct one of the Biden administration’s most disastrous foreign policy mistakes.” Senator Capito said.

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